NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Nov. 8, 2013
Punkari scores game-winner, Roberge has 2 assists in CJHL Prospects opener
DIGBY, N.S. – Sudbury Nickel Barons forward Ryan Punkari’s goal late in the second period proved to be the winner as Team East defeated Team West 4-2 Friday evening in game 1 of the Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects games staged in Digby, N.S.
Each side tallied once in the opening session, including Cray Roberge of the Espanola Rivermen drawing an assist on the CJHL East marker.
With the game knotted at 2-2 in the latter stages of the middle stanza Punkari buried the winner at 18:23.
Roberge added his second helper of the night early in the third providing some insurance for Team East, who are being guided by Espanola head coach Tom McCarthy.
Sudbury’s Bradley Bell and Joel Horodziejczyk of the Soo Thunderbirds were also named to the East roster, but Bell was not listed in the online scoring summary with the Eastern squad playing one skater short.
As for Horodziejcyk, he served as back-up in the contest and is expected to get the start in game 2 of the two-game, total-goal set, which goes Saturday at 3 p.m. ET in Yarmouth, N.S.
Meanwhile Canada East that has Kirkland Lake Gold Miners head coach and general manager Marc Lafleur serving as an assistant, has had a tough go of things at the World Junior A Challenge going winless in three games and will meet the Cech Republic for fifth place Saturday in the six-team tourney.
